Ball of confusion in the meeting hall

From one side of the city council’s table, there was discussion at Seneca last night as to where best to fit a certain corps of businesses in the corporate limits to adhere to the city’s zoning regulations.  Bottom line:  watch for the city council, likely at its next meeting, to take off the table for further consideration ordinance 2023-02.  That’s the one that would regulate where pay day loans, tattoo parlors and vaping shops may do business.  Councilwoman Rozman repeated her belief that the city’s core commercial section (the downtown) should be off-limits.  There appears to be a consensus that they are best reserved for highway commercial zones, especially the 123 By-Pass. Existing businesses of those types are exempt from any new action by the city; in other words, they are grandfathered.  But additional ones, it’s the belief among some of the city’s officials, should meet regulations such as a separation of one thousand feet.  Notwithstanding that, Councilman Ronnie O’Kelley followed Rozman by declaring that his city welcomes businesses of various kinds, saying, “We need a place for everyone.”  And Mayor Alexander started the discussion, calling attention to Small Business Appreciation Week that starts this weekend.  The mayor urged everyone to take a moment to express appreciation for all small Seneca businesses for the service they provide.  Alexander also announced that, at council’s regular April meeting two weeks ago, there was confusion as the result of ordinance 2023-02, as one person spoke over another person, later leading to difficulty in understanding who said what and when.  He implored his colleagues to carefully follow Robert’s Rules of Order.  City Attorney Bo Bowman said, by ordinance, it’s the city attorney who shall act as parliamentarian at meetings.